VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ FINANCIAL TOOLS & SERVICES DIRECTORY ★

PRICE: 5 CENTS

Sunday, October 5, 2025

Head-to-head

Diffchecker vs ECB Data Portal comparison

Compare pricing, supported platforms, categories, and standout capabilities to decide which tool fits your workflow.

Quick takeaways

Diffchecker adds Diff View coverage that ECB Data Portal skips.

ECB Data Portal includes Data APIs, Central Bank Watcher, Inflation Rates, Interest Rates, GDP, Unemployment Rates, Yield Curves, Real Yields, and Data Visualizations categories that Diffchecker omits.

Diffchecker highlights: Supports multi-format comparisons: text, images, PDFs, Excel files, and folders., Desktop apps allow fully offline diffs, ensuring comparisons never leave the user’s computer., and Real-time text diffing, diff merging, dark mode, and export to PDF..

ECB Data Portal is known for: Open SDMX 2.1 REST API with discovery & retrieval modes; single entry point at data-api.ecb.europa.eu/service/ and rich query parameters (e.g., startPeriod/endPeriod, updatedAfter, includeHistory, detail, firstNObservations/lastNObservations)., Format flexibility via content negotiation and the `format` query param: SDMX‑JSON, CSV, and SDMX‑ML (structure‑specific and generic)., and Interactive portal with export of data (CSV, XLS long/wide, SDMX) and export of visuals (PNG, PDF, PowerPoint)..

Diffchecker logo

Diffchecker

diffchecker.com

Diffchecker is a comparison tool for text, images, PDFs, Excel files, and folders. The free Basic plan is web-only, while Pro + Desktop adds offline diffs, ad-free usage, real-time text comparison, and desktop apps. Legal and Enterprise tiers include integrations (e.g. iManage) and advanced admin features. Enterprise also offers SAML SSO, SCIM provisioning, and priority support. An API is available with free and paid plans, and a 14-day trial is offered for Pro/Desktop plans.

Platforms

Web
Desktop
API

Pricing

Free
Subscription

Quick highlights

  • Supports multi-format comparisons: text, images, PDFs, Excel files, and folders.
  • Desktop apps allow fully offline diffs, ensuring comparisons never leave the user’s computer.
  • Real-time text diffing, diff merging, dark mode, and export to PDF.
  • Syntax highlighting for 20+ programming languages with character-by-character precision.
  • Public HTTP API supports text, image, PDF, and Excel diffs with tiered monthly quotas and input size limits.

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ECB Data Portal logo

ECB Data Portal

data.ecb.europa.eu

Official ECB gateway for euro‑area statistics with an open SDMX 2.1 REST API. The new endpoint is https://data-api.ecb.europa.eu/service/ (replacing the legacy SDW path). Content negotiation supports SDMX‑JSON, CSV, and SDMX‑ML. Charts and tables can be downloaded as CSV/XLS (long & wide), and charts as PNG/PDF/PPT. Typical update cadence is daily to monthly (e.g., reference FX rates around 16:00 CET on working days). ECB advises migrating from the old SDW URL as automatic redirects are planned to end on 1 Oct 2025.

Platforms

Web
API

Pricing

Free

Quick highlights

  • Open SDMX 2.1 REST API with discovery & retrieval modes; single entry point at data-api.ecb.europa.eu/service/ and rich query parameters (e.g., startPeriod/endPeriod, updatedAfter, includeHistory, detail, firstNObservations/lastNObservations).
  • Format flexibility via content negotiation and the `format` query param: SDMX‑JSON, CSV, and SDMX‑ML (structure‑specific and generic).
  • Interactive portal with export of data (CSV, XLS long/wide, SDMX) and export of visuals (PNG, PDF, PowerPoint).
  • Comprehensive euro‑area macro & markets coverage: HICP inflation, key & market interest rates, exchange rates (reference rates), GDP and labor indicators, plus euro‑area yield curves (spot/forward/par).
  • Revisions/deltas supported (`updatedAfter`) and conditional GET via `If‑Modified‑Since` for efficient sync.

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Overlap

Shared focus areas

1 overlap

Both tools cover this research theme.

Where they differ

Diffchecker

Distinct strengths include:

  • Supports multi-format comparisons: text, images, PDFs, Excel files, and folders.
  • Desktop apps allow fully offline diffs, ensuring comparisons never leave the user’s computer.
  • Real-time text diffing, diff merging, dark mode, and export to PDF.
  • Syntax highlighting for 20+ programming languages with character-by-character precision.

ECB Data Portal

Distinct strengths include:

  • Open SDMX 2.1 REST API with discovery & retrieval modes; single entry point at data-api.ecb.europa.eu/service/ and rich query parameters (e.g., startPeriod/endPeriod, updatedAfter, includeHistory, detail, firstNObservations/lastNObservations).
  • Format flexibility via content negotiation and the `format` query param: SDMX‑JSON, CSV, and SDMX‑ML (structure‑specific and generic).
  • Interactive portal with export of data (CSV, XLS long/wide, SDMX) and export of visuals (PNG, PDF, PowerPoint).
  • Comprehensive euro‑area macro & markets coverage: HICP inflation, key & market interest rates, exchange rates (reference rates), GDP and labor indicators, plus euro‑area yield curves (spot/forward/par).

Feature-by-feature breakdown

AttributeDiffcheckerECB Data Portal
Categories

Which research workflows each platform targets

Shared: APIs & SDKs

Unique: Diff View

Shared: APIs & SDKs

Unique: Data APIs, Central Bank Watcher, Inflation Rates, Interest Rates, GDP, Unemployment Rates, Yield Curves, Real Yields, Data Visualizations

Asset types

Supported asset classes and universes

Other

Bonds, Currencies, Other

Experience levels

Who each product is built for

Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced

Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced

Platforms

Where you can access the product

Web, Desktop, API

Web, API

Pricing

High-level pricing models

Free, Subscription

Free

Key features

Core capabilities called out by each vendor

Unique

  • Supports multi-format comparisons: text, images, PDFs, Excel files, and folders.
  • Desktop apps allow fully offline diffs, ensuring comparisons never leave the user’s computer.
  • Real-time text diffing, diff merging, dark mode, and export to PDF.
  • Syntax highlighting for 20+ programming languages with character-by-character precision.
  • Public HTTP API supports text, image, PDF, and Excel diffs with tiered monthly quotas and input size limits.
  • API authentication uses an email query for the free tier, and API keys for paid plans.

Unique

  • Open SDMX 2.1 REST API with discovery & retrieval modes; single entry point at data-api.ecb.europa.eu/service/ and rich query parameters (e.g., startPeriod/endPeriod, updatedAfter, includeHistory, detail, firstNObservations/lastNObservations).
  • Format flexibility via content negotiation and the `format` query param: SDMX‑JSON, CSV, and SDMX‑ML (structure‑specific and generic).
  • Interactive portal with export of data (CSV, XLS long/wide, SDMX) and export of visuals (PNG, PDF, PowerPoint).
  • Comprehensive euro‑area macro & markets coverage: HICP inflation, key & market interest rates, exchange rates (reference rates), GDP and labor indicators, plus euro‑area yield curves (spot/forward/par).
  • Revisions/deltas supported (`updatedAfter`) and conditional GET via `If‑Modified‑Since` for efficient sync.
  • Yield curve datasets include AAA euro‑area government curves with daily business‑week frequency; additional capital‑market series include real benchmark bond yields.
Tested

Verified by hands-on testing inside Find My Moat

Not yet

Not yet

Editor pick

Featured inside curated shortlists

Standard listing

Standard listing

Frequently Asked Questions

Which workflows do Diffchecker and ECB Data Portal both support?

Both platforms cover APIs & SDKs workflows, so you can research those use cases in either tool before digging into the feature differences below.

Do Diffchecker and ECB Data Portal require subscriptions?

Both Diffchecker and ECB Data Portal keep freemium access with optional paid upgrades, so you can trial each platform before committing.

How can you access Diffchecker and ECB Data Portal?

Both Diffchecker and ECB Data Portal prioritize web or desktop access. Investors wanting a mobile-first workflow may need to rely on responsive web views.

What unique strengths set the two platforms apart?

Diffchecker differentiates itself with Supports multi-format comparisons: text, images, PDFs, Excel files, and folders., Desktop apps allow fully offline diffs, ensuring comparisons never leave the user’s computer., and Real-time text diffing, diff merging, dark mode, and export to PDF., whereas ECB Data Portal stands out for Open SDMX 2.1 REST API with discovery & retrieval modes; single entry point at data-api.ecb.europa.eu/service/ and rich query parameters (e.g., startPeriod/endPeriod, updatedAfter, includeHistory, detail, firstNObservations/lastNObservations)., Format flexibility via content negotiation and the `format` query param: SDMX‑JSON, CSV, and SDMX‑ML (structure‑specific and generic)., and Interactive portal with export of data (CSV, XLS long/wide, SDMX) and export of visuals (PNG, PDF, PowerPoint)..

Curation & Accuracy

This directory blends AI‑assisted discovery with human curation. Entries are reviewed, edited, and organized with the goal of expanding coverage and sharpening quality over time. Your feedback helps steer improvements (because no single human can capture everything all at once).

Details change. Pricing, features, and availability may be incomplete or out of date. Treat listings as a starting point and verify on the provider’s site before making decisions. If you spot an error or a gap, send a quick note and I’ll adjust.